bloglovinBloglovin iconCombined ShapeCreated with Sketch. Fill 1Created with Sketch. Fill 1Created with Sketch. Fill 1Created with Sketch. Fill 1Created with Sketch. Fill 1Created with Sketch. rssRSS iconsoundcloudSoundCloud iconFill 1Created with Sketch. Fill 1Created with Sketch. Fill 1Created with Sketch. Fill 1Created with Sketch.

Author: Nick Gaswirth

7 essential benchmarks for progress

Inspiration

Who and what inspires you? Where do you go to find inspiration?

Motivation

What keeps you pushing and moving forward? What sustains you through hard times?

Support

What do you need to feel supported? How can you get even more?

Commitment

What does commitment mean to you? What can you to commit to? For how long?

Feedback

What do you need to feel appreciated and valued? How do you know what you’re doing is working?

Guidance

Who do you look up to and from where do you receive advice?

Nourishment

What keeps you strong, both mind and body? Where will you learn and how will you grow?

What are you holding on to?

anger 

resentment

worry

perfection

pleasing others

scarcity

negativity

complacency

insecurity

criticism

expectations

mistakes

frustration

roadblocks

failure

drama

stagnation

anxiety

decisiveness

freedom

creativity

confidence

possibility

abundance

compliments

goals

dreams

change

hope

ease

action

clarity

kindness

You get to decide what you want to cling to.

If it isn’t serving you, let go.

The lost art of looking back (plus a 5-year anniversary)

Anniversaries are a wonderful time for reflection; unfortunately, most entrepreneurs (myself included) are often too focused on task lists, what still hasn’t been done, the goals that are yet to be achieved.

As the five year anniversary of Learning House grows near, I find myself combing through photos and memories. It’s emotional to think about all the people who have helped foster and shape this community from a seed of a dream. (If you’re interested about stats and numbers, I’ll be posting on our nonprofit’s page soon; impressive, like so many of the people we work alongside and serve).

The biggest visions come with challenges and frustrations and disappointments and even moments of despair. But there are flashes of promise and success, too.

Failing to set aside time to appreciate those moments can lead to burnout. It’s a refreshing gift to look back and see all that’s been done.

Yes, focus on your goals. Yes, take daily steps in the direction of progress and improvement. But please, make time for reflection.

Share gratitude with others.

In the upcoming weeks, we will be posting some memories and stories from the past five years on Facebook. I’d love to invite you to follow along and celebrate with us.

Surprise and delight

Seth Godin first plopped these two words into my mind many years ago. Since then, this has become something of a personal mantra: How can I bring more joy into the world? How can I surprise the people around me?

It’s not enough to simply show up.

It’s about pushing boundaries, testing assumptions, and bringing intentional kindness into the communities in which you live.

Tweet me and let me know how you’re adding surprise and delight into your life.

Thank you

There’s strength and power in gratitude. Gratitude for self, gratitude for others, gratitude for challenges and successes and failures and opportunity.

When you learn to see gifts everywhere you look, your world expands.

Take time to recognize and honor the people and circumstances in your life. Thank those who have helped you along your journey.

Where you set your focus is where you will see growth.

If you can communicate your ideas, you can get anything done

Are your communication skills holding you back? Make it a priority and set goals to improve.

Register for this free online course on Public Speaking (class starts July 2), or check out Leading With Effective Communication.

For more free online learning opportunities, browse content from Udemy, Coursera, Toastmasters International, and the Public Speaking Project here.

Remember: If you can communicate effectively, you can get anything done.